3. Steven N'Zonzi
Before anyone says it, I know N'Zonzi is close to completing a season long loan to Sevilla, but, there's still time for a move to NUFC if Alan Pardew was that interested. Ultimately, he's probably not, but the club have been linked with the Blackburn man on countless occasions before so he's not off the shortlist entirely I'd suspect. N'Zonzi is 23 years old and looking for a move away from Ewood Park following Blackburn's relegation to the nPower Championship. Supposedly BRFC value him at £10m but they won't receive anything near that from any club. A £5m price tag is probably more realistic as the Frenchman has a lot of learning to do before he can command a fee of more than double what NUFC paid for Yohan Cabaye this time last year. Decent on the ball, good at winning it and an engine. Sounds a tad like Cheick Tioté, but he's a slightly different player. N'Zonzi is a bit more elegant on the ball & going forward than our Ivorian, at least from the times I've watched him play. He's a good player with good potential; hence the interest from Sevilla. If,
IF, Tioté was to leave, N'Zonzi wouldn't be a bad replacement to have on the books although, he would have to fight a certain Gael Bigirimana for a starting role! He ticks most of Mike Ashley boxes, and for me at least, is a solid player.